The paratriathlon competitions at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro are scheduled to take place from 10–12 September 2016 atFort Copacabana. Sixty athletes will compete across two genders, and six events.[1] This will be the first Paralympic Games to feature paratriathlon, one of two new sports (along with paracanoe) added to the schedule for 2016.

The Paralympic triathlon contains three components; a 750 m (820 yd) swim, 20 km (12 mi) cycle, and a 5 km (3.1 mi) run. The competitions take the form of a single event between all competitors with no heats. Competition takes place across four of the five recognised paratriathlon classifications; both genders will compete in the PT2 and PT4 classifications, the PT1 category for men only, where wheelchair athletes use handcycles on the cycling leg, and racing wheelchairs on the run leg, and the PT5 category for women only, where women with visual impairments will be assisted by a sighted guide, using a tandem bicycle on the cycling leg; as with other events for blind and visually impaired athletes, any guide will not count as a quota athlete but will be awarded a medal as appropriate.

No competition will be held in the PT3 classification in 2016.

Paratriathlon at the 2016 Summer Paralympics – Classification and events

Classification

Description

Men’s Event

Women’s Event

PT1

Athletes with mobility impairments that render them incapable of safely running or pedalling a bicycle. They must have a classification assessment score of up to 640,0 points.Athletes must use a recumbent handcycle during the cycling stage and a racing wheelchair for the running phase of the race.

Athletes with mobility impairments such as muscle power, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia or athetosis that have a classification assessment score from 455,0 to 494,9 points.Athletes may use approved prostheses or supportive devices during the running and cycling stages.

no event will be held in this classification in 2016

PT4

Athletes with mobility impairments such as muscle power, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia or athetosis that have a classification assessment score from 495,0 to 557,0 points.Athletes may use approved prostheses or supportive devices during the running and cycling stages.

Athletes with a visual impairment. All qualifying levels of visual impairment, IBSA/IPC defined sub-classes B1, B2, and B3, are grouped together in this classification.Athletes must have a sighted guide of the same gender and nationality during the entire race and use a tandem bicycle during the cycling stage. The guide will not be counted towards a quota, but will be eligible to receive a medal.

In 2016, the field will largely be selected on the basis of rankings, although spaces will be reserved for the nation represented by the 2015 World Champion in each classification, two host nation athletes, and eight selections from theBipartite Commission. If host nation athletes are quaified using the ITU Rankings criteria, the host nation places will be reduced, and awarded instead by the Bipartite Commission.

An National Paralympic Committee (NPC) may be allocated a maximum of two qualification slots per medal event for a maximum total of twelve qualification slots in 2016. Exceptions may be made via the Bipartite Commission Invitation Allocation method.

To be eligible for selection by an NPC, athletes must:

be ranked on the ITU Paralympic Qualification List closing 30 June 2016;

be internationally classified with either a

‘Confirmed’ sport class status or a

‘Review’ sport class status with a review date after 31 December 2016.

Ten places, not including guides in the PT5 classification, are available for each of the six events, awarded as follows: